Ch.3939. Spirit Body

“…Thus, unlike mana or legal power, which are innate abilities possessed by the chosen ones, holy power is a fundamental energy that exists within all humans, as creatures of God. However, precisely because of this, training it to a level where it can be used in actual combat presents considerable difficulty…”

Professor Griever Ranfeldt continued speaking, swallowing the anger boiling up inside him.

The classroom atmosphere was, to put it kindly, a complete mess.

There weren’t many students to begin with, and most of those present were barely listening to him.

Normally, students would have tried to catch his eye and make a good impression, but now they were blatantly ignoring him.

‘…If only that damn fellow wasn’t a Cultist of the Demon.’

He ground his teeth as he thought of Marquis Riverback.

He had thought the young, successful businessman might be someone he could exploit, but he turned out to be all show and no substance.

Yes, all show and no substance.

Whether someone was a Cultist of the Demon or not didn’t really matter to Griever.

All that mattered was whether they could benefit him or not.

In that sense…

“Excuse me, I have a question.”

This nonchalant student raising his hand was someone Griever would love to crush if he could.

Darwood Campbell.

The one who had taken his emergency equipment during the monster incident and deployed a barrier.

“So how can I quickly increase the total amount of holy power and improve proficiency with blessings?”

“…The best way to increase holy power is, of course, to improve proficiency by actually using it.”

He answered with a stiff voice.

“Don’t ask about obvious facts. That’s a question below the standards of an Elphante Academy student.”

“Yes, I apologize.”

“Focus on your training. I’m embarrassed just hearing it.”

He deliberately used harsh language to put the other person down, but the student showed no sign of anger and just smiled.

However.

Those eyes weren’t smiling at all.

“…”

Griever felt a chill run down his spine and deliberately looked away.

There was definitely something unsettling about that student.

“…That concludes today’s lesson.”

He didn’t want to face that student any longer. That’s probably why he ended the class earlier than usual.

Walking down the corridor, Griever thought about that Darwood fellow.

‘…He resembles that man.’

A strange person he had spoken with once through Marquis Riverback.

A weird fellow who called himself the Luminary.

Though he had never seen his face, he clearly remembered the chilling impression he gave off.

It was an ominous sensation almost identical to the alienness he felt from that student just now.

So similar that they could be the same person.

‘Well, whichever it is, I won’t be running into either of them anymore.’

He smirked as he entered his office with that thought.

From under his desk, he pulled out a letter filled with information he planned to “sell.”

All of it was classified information and secrets he had obtained while working as a professor at the academy.

‘The Empire always has many enemies.’

All he needed to do was sell this quickly and disappear.

People might die or suffer great damage because of it, but that wasn’t his concern.

However.

“Yes, well. Sorry to interrupt your happy future planning.”

Suddenly, a voice came from right behind him.

Simultaneously, he felt a powerful impact on the back of his head.

“Isn’t it a bit unconscionable to expect to get away with doing only bad things?”

A familiar voice.

It belonged to the person he had just been facing.

Darwood Campbell. And the one trampling his collapsed body was the Tristan duchess.

“…What are you two doing! How dare a lowly baron’s son like you—ARGH!”

His sentence ended strangely due to circumstances beyond his control.

One kick from Elnore immediately dislocated his arm.

“…Hey, Elnore. You’re being too violent from the start.”

Darwood said with a disgruntled voice, but Elnore just shrugged.

“I merely caressed him lightly.”

“…”

Lightly?

This?

That look shot toward Elnore, but she calmly replied without blinking.

“He insulted you.”

“…”

“I showed great restraint.”

“…Well, anyway.”

After clearing his throat a few times, Darwood pulled out a scripture from inside his clothes.

It was a textbook containing basic blessings issued to all new students in the Holy Department.

“…Just a moment, so…”

After frowning and reading it for a while, Darwood finally stammered out something.

It was an awkwardly constructed prayer.

“-And thus warmth shall dwell within you. Heal.”

Then, a clumsily woven white holy power settled haphazardly on his arm.

“…Hmm, so that’s how it works. I get it now.”

“…”

Griever looked at the proudly speaking Darwood with disbelief.

This blessing was poor even by freshman standards, yet he seemed pleased with himself.

Of course, as soon as Griever showed this expression, his other arm was shattered by Elnore’s kick.

“AAAAARGH-!”

“…Hey, Elnore. I told you we need to take it slow.”

“Isn’t this slow enough?”

“…”

“Hmm. Strange. According to my education at the duke’s house, when interrogating an enemy, one should start by skinning—”

“You, you two! What do you want, what do you waaAAARGH-!”

As Griever cried out with tears streaming down his face, Darwood cleared his throat again and answered.

“Look, we already know, so let’s make this easy. Who were you planning to sell this to within the academy?”

“…”

Even amid the excruciating pain, Griever paused.

This was one thing he couldn’t yield on.

The existence of the Luminary’s agent hidden within the academy.

He knew he wouldn’t survive if he revealed this.

“…I don’t know what you’re talking abouAAAAAAARGH-!”

This time he couldn’t even finish his sentence before his left leg was shattered.

Darwood seemed to have given up, just holding his head and sighing.

“I’ll talk! I’ll talk, so please-!”

Finally, with tears and saliva dripping, he spilled the names of everyone involved.

Beside him, Darwood was muttering, “Hmm, hmm,” and writing everything down.

“Is that everything?”

“Everything, that’s everything…! Please, call a doctor…!”

Griever begged with a completely hoarse voice.

‘At least this one is better than that monster…!’

He was hoping to appeal to this man who at least tried to restrain the duchess who was breaking his limbs like twigs.

But Darwood just smiled and shook his head.

“Come on, why call a doctor? I’ll heal you myself.”

“…”

“I’m aspiring to join the Holy Department after all. I should know how to use blessings.”

I can’t be a student unworthy of Elphante, right?

Adding that with a grin, Darwood again stammered through the prayer.

Thanks to his terrible holy power control and blessing proficiency, it took quite a while for the broken limbs to heal completely.

“Huff… huff…”

Griever gasped for breath as he barely managed to stand up.

His body was drenched in cold sweat, but at least he could move his limbs now.

As Griever struggled to his feet, he ground his teeth inwardly.

‘…I’ll kill these bastards…!’

But there was nothing he could do right now.

The right move would be to escape first, then somehow prepare defenses to kill these two.

“…So, is that all for now?”

When he said this with a servile smile, Darwood nodded with a smirk.

“Yes. For now.”

That’s right.

Griever inwardly smiled as he staggered backward.

They would regret letting him live…

-!

“AAAAARGH-!”

Griever, who was about to leave the room, collapsed to the floor again.

Probably because the Tristan duchess had broken his right leg again from behind.

Griever crawled on the floor, screaming.

“Why, why are you doing this! I told you everything!”

“No, that’s separate.”

While Griever was crawling, Darwood approached him again and cast a healing blessing. It seemed slightly more proficient than before.

During this, Griever’s eyes met Darwood’s.

“…”

And because of that.

Griever realized he had seriously misunderstood something.

That is.

He had thought this man would be better than the Tristan duchess.

That eerie feeling returned.

The terribly chilling sensation he had felt from the Luminary.

“You said it yourself earlier. The best way to master holy power and blessings is to keep using them in practical situations.”

“When there’s someone like you who I can torment without feeling any guilt… I can’t pass up such a good training method, can I?”

The fear of being treated not as a fellow “human” but merely as a “means” to an end.

“Beginner blessings usually focus on protecting and healing others. So.”

This man, right now.

“Would you mind getting hurt again?”

Doesn’t even see him as a human being!

“So I can practice.”

The sentence Darwood uttered with a smiling face fell upon Griever’s pale face.

Then, once more.

The sound of bones breaking and screams echoed throughout the office.

●

We handed the completely unconscious Griever over to the internal knights. He’ll probably receive appropriate punishment there.

On the way out, I scan through the messages that have appeared before me.

<System Message>

[ Rapid mastery of ‘Beginner Blessing’ confirmed. ]

[ ‘Trait: Holy Power Control’ unlocked! ]

<System Message>

[ Your holy power has affected the Epic item ‘Soul Linker’! ]

<System Message>

[ Checking current condition of target ‘Elnore’. ]

[ Unique debuff ‘Madness’ has improved under your influence. ]

I suppose the saying “killing three birds with one stone” exists for situations like this.

This is what I gained from beating and healing a human garbage not worth associating with. Definitely a profitable venture.

The most encouraging outcome is obtaining the Holy Power Control trait.

Now I too have acquired an ability that can be self-operated like mana or legal power.

Though it’s weak now, the difference between 0 and 1 is truly like heaven and earth.

‘…This is immediately apparent.’

I look at the amulet worn on my wrist.

Until now, independent growth was impossible, but now that I have the Holy Power Control trait, I can awaken the soul inside by myself.

“…Are you feeling less stressed now?”

And finally, this person.

Managing Elnore’s mental state is always important.

I’ll definitely need her help for the upcoming midterm exams.

“Mm.”

Elnore responded with an expressionless face that somehow seemed much more refreshed than usual.

I’ve been around this person so often that I can read the mood even through her expressionless face. It’s fascinating.

“…Do you have something on your mind?”

That’s why I can ask such questions.

She looks refreshed but somehow shadowed too. As if worried about something.

“…”

Indeed, hearing my question, Elnore swallowed her words instead of denying it.

As if it were truly difficult to express.

“…Darwood.”

“Yes.”

“I heard you met the Grand Duke Tristan.”

Father, not Grand Duke Tristan.

A title that starkly reveals their father-daughter relationship.

As I inwardly smile bitterly, Elnore continues with difficulty.

“Did he… do anything terrible to you?”

“Terrible?”

“That man would certainly resent me having relationships with others.”

Ah, that’s true.

According to the setting, Gideon has rejected that from the beginning.

As a result, Elnore’s human relationships are extremely limited. Unless it’s someone like Beatrix, a friend of ten years.

‘…There are reasons for that, though.’

I can’t explain that here.

That’s tied to the main scenario that will unfold later.

“I wasn’t particularly mistreated. It was a bit scary, though.”

Well. If I had failed at deceiving him, I might have died right there.

It would be a lie to say I wasn’t scared.

“Still, somehow it worked out well. I think I’ll continue to see him.”

“…You’ll continue to see him?”

When Elnore asked that, I shrugged and answered.

“Yes, well. He’s an important person to me too.”

“…Important? To you? That man? Why?”

Elnore spoke with an uncharacteristically incredulous voice.

Well. Isn’t it obvious?

There’s plenty to absorb from him with my Enlightenment skill, and he has a significant role in the main scenario.

And, above all else.

“Because he’s related to you. He’s family.”

In the end, this person is the most important.

To somehow make it to the ending successfully, controlling this person, who is the final boss, is most crucial.

And, hearing my words, Elnore.

Her face turned red.

“…”

I rub my eyes for a moment.

‘…Her face is turning red?’

This person?

This person who could win a contest of expressionlessness against a wooden block?

“You, that statement, I mean…”

Elnore continued with difficulty.

“Saying that my family is important to you because you’ll continue to see them, that…”

Then she closed her mouth.

She seems unable to utter what would follow with her own lips.

“…For such things, couldn’t you set the mood before speaking? When you say it so suddenly like that, it’s difficult to respond.”

“…”

I don’t know what’s happening.

[ Target ‘Elnore Erinarise la Tristan’s affection level has changed! ]

[ Affection level has been elevated to ‘Beloved Level 2’! ]

[ Additional rewards are now available! ]

I can tell I’ve said something wrong.

Well.

●

“Young master, have you caused trouble again?”

“…Pardon?”

When I returned to the dormitory, Hermann was looking at me with a deeply concerned expression.

What’s wrong with him now?

“Speaking from my experience of serving you for a long time, I get the feeling you’ve once again unknowingly set fire to someone’s heart and just walked away.”

“…”

“You’ve always been like this. If you only knew how many young ladies in the Campbell barony are wiping away tears while thinking of you…”

“…Don’t say such nonsense.”

He’s making me sound like some natural playboy.

How unfair.

“…Well. Whether such a clever young master truly doesn’t know or is pretending not to, this old body cannot…”

I heard Hermann muttering something behind me, but I ignored it and quickly entered my room.

There’s something I need to check.

[ Soul Linker ] [ Exclusive Equipment ]

[ Enchant: Epic ] [ ‘Hero Fragment’ Fusion ]

[ Equipment inhabited by a great spirit. You can awaken the spirit’s consciousness by increasing synchronization rate. ]

[ Always imbued with mana due to the influence of the great soul. ]

[ Current synchronization rate: 10% ]

[ You can unlock the soul’s first level of consciousness! ]

[ Proceed with unlocking? ] [Y/N]

“…Phew.”

The reason users recognize Gregory’s Ghost as an item that should be consumed quickly is because the souls that emerge when enchanted onto other items are mostly “great figures” who can help players grow with tremendous enhancement power.

There’s a reason it’s Epic grade.

The problem is…

‘…It’s random.’

They’re definitely historical figures worthy of remaining as thought entities in the Otherworld, but who appears is randomly assigned each playthrough.

So I have to hope for someone optimal for me.

There are surprisingly many madmen like the “Murderer of the Misty Forest” or the “Giant Eater” too.

‘…Whoever it is, they’re definitely not ordinary among the greats.’

Events related to Elia and the Inquisition opened simultaneously just from awakening this a little.

It’s definitely an exceptional case.

‘Please be someone good, please be someone good…!’

With that thought, I press the Y button on the status window.

Then, immense energy gathers in the amulet. Through the creeping spiritual energy, one “image” rises.

A battlefield at dawn. The daybreak settling over it. A tattered flag and the knight carrying it.

The armor is broken, the body is battered all over, but still advancing forward with the flag.

Indomitable.

That’s the first word that comes to mind.

“…!”

It’s a figure I recognize.

‘…This.’

Perhaps.

This might be better than I thought.

As I think this, a spirit entity suddenly appears before me.

●